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Get Your Hollywood Rant On

Do you hate anyone enough to post a vicious YouTube video rant against them? (Please say no, even if you’re lying to me. It’s already been a traumatic month.)

In our strident, express-yourself-even-if-you’re-being-a-jerk culture, there are plenty of people who do. Repeatedly. Especially when they dislike celebrities. And it seems The CW believes that giving such “haters” a televised platform with which to spew more venom is a good plan. (Of course, they also think Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries are other winning ideas …)

This fall Mario Lopez is slated to host H8R, a new reality “hate show” scheduled to air this fall in which the common man vents his revulsion toward the über-infamous Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Paris Hilton and Snooki types of the world.

The show works something like this: Haters send in their video tirades against a certain star. The celebrity watches them and then decides which contestant to visit personally in an attempt to win the person’s love—or at least their civility. And because it wouldn’t be reality TV without as much uproar as possible, the louder, more vociferous a rant is, the better chance that contestant has of being noticed and visited.

Star “lovers” will participate as well, though it’s unclear what role they will play. In any case, the show bothers me. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous might have kicked off celebrity mania in the last century, but shows like Cribs and I Want a Famous Face have helped to stir a new level of obsession. This show turns all that celebrity obsession on its ear and instead taps into a totally different sort of celebrity obsession, giving us a show designed to turn celebrity haters into … celebrities.

What’s the attraction for a show like this? Is it that so many average Joes and Janes feel insecure in their own skin and long to live vicariously through others? Is it because people somehow feel better about themselves when hating on others?

Probably both. Screenrant.com has a point:

“H8R’s producers have found a way to continue making the cheap, mass-market programming that much of the country loves—while simultaneously attracting the demographics that despise them. If it works, The CW may very well have its cake and eat it too.”

Obviously, we’ve not seen the show. But from what I can tell right now, I’m hoping would-be fans will skip this cake and reach for a carrot instead.

Meredith has had two careers: one as a writer/editor for both Focus on the Family and The Navigators, and one as an English teacher trekking far-flung corners of Europe, Africa and Asia. She now rejoins Focus, but with souvenirs—including new eyes with which to better view American culture.

Have something to say? Leave a comment.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Comment by Anathoth:

I imagine not only will people watch it but it will be considered a "hit". Cheap, easy to mass produce, and no shortage of irrational hatred on the internet.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Comment by lupinskitten:

Given how much Hollywood celebs love themselves, it surprises me any would agree to this. It'll bomb.

But hey now, I like The Vampire Diaries!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Comment by SNJ:

How sad! I mean it, how absolutly pathetic. I know that everyone wants their shining moment in the sun and most people want to be on t.v when that moment apears but to bad mouth stars just to get that attention? I mean really, these fokes need to get a hobby. I honestly wonder how many stars will actually be on this show. I try to avoid hate spewers as much as possable and thankfully avoiding this TV show will not be hard for me.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Comment by kate:

Never heard of it till now. H8R continues the culture of attention-grabbing outrageousness. I may tune in just out of curiosity.

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Good media discernment is about guarding our eyes and hearts before we watch or listen. And it's also about grappling with the entertainment we do see or hear. That's why the Plugged In Blog is devoted to guarding, discussing and grappling.